The Pioneer Settlement, in
Swan Hill, Victoria, is Australia's first open-air museum, portraying life on the Murray in the era 1830-1930. It opened in 1966 as the Swan Hill Folk Museum, before being renamed, following a visit by the Queen in 1970. It contains approximately 50 replica buildings, including Masonic hall, coach-house, post office, photographic studio, original 1895
kaiserpanorama
The Kaiserpanorama (or Kaiser-Panorama) is a form of stereoscopic entertainment medium used chiefly in the 19th and early 20th centuries, a precursor to film, invented by August Fuhrmann (1844–1925). It was patented by the inventor ca. 1890. Th ...
, and newspaper office.
The collection also contains numerous tractors – including the first tractor ever brought to Australia – and historic vehicles, and two 19th century riverboats, including the 1876
paddlesteamer
A paddle steamer is a steamship or steamboat powered by a steam engine that drives paddle wheels to propel the craft through the water. In antiquity, paddle wheelers followed the development of poles, oars and sails, where the first uses were w ...
PS Gem.
This vessel was towed to the site in 1963, and now functions as the main entrance and contains a restaurant.
The
PS ''Gem'' was towed by the
PS ''Oscar W'' to the Pioneer Settlement in 1962 following her sale for £4000 to the Swan Hill Folk Museum. She now exists as a static display within the compound.
) The
PV ''Pyap'' operates daily cruises from the Horseshoe Bend Wharf within the Settlement. Original built in
Mannum as a barge in 1896, the ''Pyap'' was converted to a paddle steamer by October 1897. Prior to relocation to the Pioneer Settlement in 1970, the ''Pyap'' was refitted with a 225hp GM671 Gray Marine diesel engine.
In 1994 an act of Parliament brought the Settlement under the control of the Swan Hill City Council.
References
External links
Website
{{coord, -35.3472, 143.5646, type:landmark_region:AU-VIC, display=title
Art museums and galleries in Victoria (Australia)
Murray River
Mallee (Victoria)
Open-air museums in Australia
Museums established in 1966
1966 establishments in Australia
Swan Hill